The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed the death of its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sam Zadok, who was among the 20 people killed in the attack by herdsmen last Tuesday in Gwamba village of Demsa Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming his death, the state Secretary of PDP, Hon. Abdullahi Parambe, said the party would continue to regret the absence of Zadok who has been instrumental to the party’s development especially in the southern senatorial district of the state.

While addressing journalists in Yola, the state capital, he said the deceased was also former state Commissioner of Ministry of Youth and Sports in the administration of former state Governor, Murtala Nyako, who has never attempted to defect to any other political party. PDP also condemned in strong term the wanton killings, but called on the incumbent state government to as a matter of urgency stop the spate of killings.

However, Zadok was said to have been ambushed by the assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on his way to the troubled area to broker peace. Reports had it that the late former commissioner and his entourage was a stone through to the troubled area when they were attacked and killed instantly.

Until his demise last Tuesday, Zadok was the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, and was an ally to Senator Grace Bent. Zadok participated during the just concluded peace initiative between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers headed by the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, where he called for the immediate redeployment of the Brigade Commander of the 232 Battalion in Yola for taking side with the herdsmen.

Also speaking, a native of Gwamba community, Mr. Omayan Tambaya, confirmed that 20 people from his village were massacred while 30 were injured and many houses razed down as residents fled to a nearby village for safety. Tambaya explained that the assailants numbering about 50 stormed the village in four Toyota Hilux vans and motorcycles shooting sporadically at the people. Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has expressed shock over the gruesome murder of Zadock.

According to the party, This killing of our spokesperson, who is known for his patriotism, dedication to national development and pursuit of the revitalisation of our repositioned party in that state, must be subjected to full scale investigation, particularly in the face of rising speculations over the circumstances surrounding his murder.

While we appreciate the efforts of the military in its response leading to the arrest of some persons, we reject any attempt to wave off this killing without an exhaustive investigation by relevant security agencies and the report must be made public.

The PDP is particularly appalled by the fact that our nation is failing by the day following the inability of the incompetent APC-led federal government to ensure a peaceful Nigeria and to provide adequate security for our citizens.

PDP added that the nation is inundated with news of gruesome killings and unabating violence across the country, with Nigerians being hacked down or abducted by marauders and insurgents under the inept APC government which has failed to take decisive steps to stem the ugly tide.

The party said gradually, the nation is being turned into a funeral parlour with bloodletting in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Zamfara, Enugu, Kogi, Ebonyi, Edo, Plateau, Nasarawa and other states across the country.

Indeed, we cannot continue to lose our fine, bright and talented citizens to bandits while those vested with the mandate to protect them are more interested in their ill-lucked 2019 re-election, it added.

The national leadership of our party therefore demand an urgen action by the Buhari-led federal government to restore peace and end the violence in the land, even as we urge the security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the killing of Zadock.

PDP called all its members in Adamawa state and across the country to remain calm as the leadership of the party at the highest level continues to engage the security agencies until we get to the root of the matter.